Shoura to discuss recommendation for women to hold leadership positions in Saudi missions abroad

RIYADH: The Shoura Council on Tuesday will discuss a recommendation to enable Saudi women to hold leadership positions in the Kingdom’s diplomatic missions abroad. The Saudi consultative assembly will also discuss support for Saudi women in holding positions in international organizations. Noora Al-Shaaban, a Shoura Council member, said: “We first thank the members who put forward this recommendation,” adding that it is in line with the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision which supports women. The Shoura Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee in a report recommended the necessity of appointing Saudi women to leading positions in the Kingdom’s diplomatic missions abroad. Al-Shaaban said: “There are a number of young women who have graduated and demonstrated their achievements globally.” She added that the introduction of such a recommendation is an affirmation that Saudi women are able to take over leadership positions as ministers, ambassadors and Saudi representatives in international forums. “As members of the Shoura Council, we go on foreign visits. Thankfully, we proved ourselves, as we are able to represent Saudi Arabia to the fullest extent.” Al-Shaaban, who started her career as a teacher and rose to become a supervisor and director, added that everyone attests to the fact that Saudi women are no less competent than their counterparts in other countries. She said that this is the age in the era of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman which gives Saudi women golden opportunities to show their social and leadership skills. She added that “the Kingdom is now global, and this means that there is a balance between men and women,” adding that the two complement each other. She added that men and women affirm that the society has become receptive and ready for the political presence of women and in this context, “we will support our colleagues in the Shoura Council.” She added that “women proved their existence years ago and have assumed a number of leadership positions, such as Noura Al-Fayez.” Al-Fayez was the first Saudi woman to hold a Cabinet-level office in Saudi Arabia. In September, Fatimah Baeshen was also appointed as the first spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC. Baeshen was a director at the Washington-based think tank Arabia Foundation. She joined the Arabia Foundation after having worked with the Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning in Riyadh between 2014 and 2017. Lawyer Ahlam Al-Shahrani said that there are many Saudi women who have proven their capabilities in many fields. One of them is Khlood Aldukheil in business and finance. She holds the position of managing director of the Aldukheil Financial Group, a company engaged in investment and banking. She has expertise in various areas, including business formation and restructuring, debt advisory and debt restructuring, risk management and regulatory compliance. She’s currently the president of the National Committee for Statistics under the Saudi Council of Chambers, chairperson of the audit committee for Saudi Orix Financing Company, among other positions. “We hope that the recommendation will be activated and approved. We are in a pivotal historical transition period for the status of women in Saudi Arabia,” Al-Shaaban said. She added: “It is in a pioneering global initiative that brings together the sons and daughters of the homeland. The country does not walk crooked. It will also lead society’s ideas, prosperity and development.” Source: ARAB NEWS